Xu Huaixian didn't verbally agree, but his hand was already reaching for the money pouch on the table.
Chen Liejiu grinned. "You made a smart choice. Don't worry—I won't let you suffer with me."
Xu Huaixian looked at his radiant smile, and the pain in his body and mind seemed to ease. He nodded. "Mm."
Suddenly thrust into this unfamiliar world, robbed of his home, and saddled with a frail body, surviving alone would've been a nightmare.
But now? A stunning, wealthy "sugar mommy" had swooped in, turning his hell mode into easy mode.
Whether he'd suffer or not remained to be seen—but he certainly wasn't at a disadvantage.
With his marriage settled and minor troubles resolved, Chen Liejiu relaxed. Even Xu Huaixian's gaunt, ghostly pallor now seemed refreshingly handsome to him.
Without hesitation, he took Xu Huaixian's hand. "Since we're family now, let me introduce you to the others."
Twenty-seven years single, and now this—Xu Huaixian glanced at the warm fingers entwined with his, his own curling slightly in response.
In the courtyard, Chen Xiaomei fiddled with a palm leaf, lost in thought.
Once Xu Huaixian leaves, where can I find a man for Big Brother?
The village was out—men here recoiled from her brother like he carried the plague. His lackeys? Too spineless, groveling at his every word. Unworthy.
In her eyes, Chen Liejiu deserved the best man in the world.
Yet she couldn't think of a single candidate.
When Chen Liejiu led Xu Huaixian over, her small face was knotted with worry.
"Xiaomei," Chen Liejiu tapped her head, "call him Second Brother."
She blinked. "Huh?"
"Second Brother," Chen Liejiu repeated, tweaking her twin buns. "From now on, he's family."
Xu Huaixian's original name, "Xu Erlang," had been a placeholder until his teacher renamed him. Most villagers believed crude names warded off evil—hence "Dogegg" or "Second Girl." Slightly classier families used birth order: First Son, Second Son.
Though Xu Huaixian was now a live-in husband, Chen Liejiu refused to demean him with titles like sister-in-law. Since Xu Huaixian was younger and the second son, Second Brother fit.
Chen Xiaomei didn't grasp the nuance—but she did understand "he's family now."
Her eyes bulged. She whipped her head to Xu Huaixian. "What?"
Xu Huaixian winced.
He'd promised her he'd leave. Then Chen Liejiu had dazzled him with looks and money, making him forget entirely.
Now he'd committed to both—and had to betray one.
Feeling the warmth of Chen Liejiu's hand, then meeting Xiaomei's betrayed gaze, he coughed awkwardly.
Sorry, kid.
"I… changed my mind."
Xiaomei's trust shattered into rage.
"You liar! What about chasing horses?! You promised!"
Her voice climbed hysterically. Villagers had warned her—"That sickly Xu will drag your brother down!"
Chen Liejiu would absolutely bankrupt himself for ginseng and bird's nests if Xu Huaixian stayed. After years of sacrifice for his siblings, he'd finally been close to comfort—only to plunge back into hardship.
Because of this traitor.
Xu Huaixian hadn't expected such fury. Before he could explain, Xiaomei charged, head lowered like a battering ram.
Chen Liejiu intercepted her. "Xiaomei! Talk, don't tackle!"
She froze. "You're scolding me?"
Tears welled. He's never yelled at me before!
All because of him!
"I hate you!" She screamed at Xu Huaixian, then fled, sobbing.
Xu Huaixian stood stunned. "I—"
"She'll cool off," Chen Liejiu sighed, gathering her discarded palm leaves. "I spoiled her—she just needs time."
Guilt gnawed at Xu Huaixian. Noticing crude weaving attempts on some leaves, he offered, "Let me try making something for her. As an apology."
He'd learned basic weaving during rural inspections. Crude, but better than Xiaomei's.
Chen Liejiu smiled. "Alright."
His heart warmed. Xu Huaixian cared—enough to humble himself for Xiaomei.
News spread faster than plague in Xinghua Village.
"He jumped into the river—I thought he had principles! Yet he folded so quickly."
"What choice did he have? Can't farm, can't fight, just whines and tries to die. Pathetic."
"And Chen Liejiu—plenty of men out there, yet he picks a sickly one? Even for his heat cycle, at least get someone healthy!"
"Who'd want him, though? A ger who grew up among mercenaries, now a loan shark? Rumor says he slept his way into getting his brother hired at the escort agency—"
A gentle voice cut in: "Aunt Li, best watch your tongue. The Chen ancestors might visit you tonight."
Wang Wanwan, a delicate girl with a laundry basin, passed by.
The Chen family's ancestral graves covered half the village hill. Their clan's influence ensured Chen Liejiu's safety—no one dared cross them.
Aunt Li paled. "Ah, Wanwan! This old mouth of mine—tsk, always flapping!" She play-slapped her cheeks.
Wanwan ignored her, scanning the crowd until they fell silent.
As she left, Aunt Li hocked a spit at her back, then scurried after her.
"Wanwan, dear, now that you've got a brother-in-law, best guard your money. That sickly man'll drain your family dry!"
"Your husband toils on the road—hold tight to his earnings, lest your brother-in-law steal them for medicine—"
Wanwan snapped. "Aunt Li, enough."
Aunt Li simpered. "Just looking out for you!"
As if this capable, beautiful girl would willingly waste her life on Chen Liejiu's crippled brother!
Wanwan stormed off.
Home, she was greeted by Chen Liejiu: "Wanwan, meet Second Brother."
She bowed. "Second Brother."
Chen Liejiu introduced, "My sister-in-law, Wang Wanwan."
Xu Huaixian nodded. She's fifteen?
Chen Liejiu whispered, "I found her. She and Xiaohu only ceremonially wed—no consummation."
Xu Huaixian exhaled. Thank god. Modern sensibilities couldn't stomach child marriages.
Wanwan eyed Xu Huaixian's skeletal frame, unease prickling. Then—
"Cough-cough-cough—"
Xu Huaixian doubled over, veins bulging as he choked.
Wanwan's eye twitched. She bolted to the kitchen.
Grabbing wheat for dinner, she hesitated. Then—scoop!—dumped rice into the pot instead.
As she washed it, village gossip echoed: "That Xu won't last the year—"
Gritting her teeth, she yanked a strip of cured meat from the rafters, chopped it, and stir-fried it with greens.
I'll fatten him up myself.
Aunt Li's "guard your money"? Hah!
Chen Liejiu had saved her life. If he wanted a sickly husband, she'd pawn the roof to fund it!
At dinner, Xu Huaixian fretted. "Should we look for Xiaomei?"
Chen Liejiu loudened: "Fewer mouths, more food!"
Behind the kitchen, Xiaomei—who'd snuck back at the aroma—glared, ripping weeds in fury.
Fine! Starve me!
Later, stomach growling, she crept to the kitchen. Wanwan always left her leftovers.
Tonight? Nothing.
Tears fell. See?! Men always abandon sisters for wives!
She trudged to her room—then gasped.
On her bedside table: a steaming meal, chopsticks, and a flock of palm-leaf butterflies and dragonflies.
Each one—exquisite.
More lifelike than anything she'd ever seen.